Sea of green: Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade 2009

Several thousand people line Third Street South and Fifth Avenue South in Naples to watch more than 100 groups in the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Marco Island residents Carol Rosasco, center, Cindy Crane, left, Dave Walsh, right, call themselves "Larky Leprechans" and dressed the part as they watched the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday in Naples. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff

Joe Scanlon, 78, sports a lucky hat as he watches the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday in Naples. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff

Lee County Pipes and Drums band march down Third Street South during the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday in Naples. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff

Candy is tossed out of bus carrying students from St. Ann Catholic School during the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday in Naples. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff

Tiffany, a 2-year-old Matlipoo, gets a front row seat on the lap of her owner, Naples resident Jim Graham, during the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday in Naples. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff

Collette Wetzel, 15, marches with the Barron Collier High School color guard and band during the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday in Naples. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff

Susan Buechel, left, makes bubbles as she and others watch the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade from the top of Lowry Hill offices on the corner of Third Street South and Fifth Avenue South on Saturday in Naples. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff

A group from the Ave Maria Grammar and Preparatory School walk up Third Street South during the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday in Naples. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff

Frank Sullivan, a retired firefighter from Miramar, Fla., hangs off the back of a 1934 Ahren-Fox fire truck as he waves to the crowd during the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday in Naples. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff

Naples resident Frances Borelli throws her hands in the air as she and her daughter Alexandria, 3, on her lap, get the attention of participants in the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday in Naples. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff

Thad Watkins, left, and other members of the Dunbar High School Marching Streak perform during the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday in Naples. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff

Retired Boston police officer Danny Harrinton wears a shirt that says "Caution Wild Irishman" as he watches the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday in Naples. "You look like ready money," Harrington says to the groups passing him in the parade. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff

Phil Mannery leads a group from Rockaway Beach, NY during the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday in Naples. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff

A marching band performs during the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday in Naples. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff

A scene from the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday in Naples. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff

Max Caras, 8, left, and his brother Brett, 6, laugh at parade participants during the 31st Annual Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday in Naples. Several thousands of people turned out to watch the parade that had 128 groups entered spanned a route that spanned 1.6 miles through downtown Naples. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff